Kem Sokha (Photo: Sovannara, RFI)Monday 30 August 2010
By Leang Delux
Radio France Internationale
Translated from Khmer by Soy
Click here to read the original article in Khmer
Kem Sokha, President of the Human Rights Party (HRP), was charged with defamation by the Phnom Penh municipal court after he was sued for defamation by former employees of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) at the end of 2006. Along with this charge, judge of the Phnom Penh municipal court also sent a letter to the National Assembly to lift Kem Sokha’s parliamentary immunity as well.
Four years ago, before he became president of the HRP, Kem Sokha was the president of the CCHR. At that time, he was accused by a group of employees of irregularities in the administration of this NGO. The dispute between the employees and Kem Sokha led to numerous exchanges between them at the time. Chhim Phalvorun, a representative of the employees brought many lawsuits against Kem Sokha, among which the employees accused him of defamation, breach of trust, and faking signatures etc…
According to a reliable source, on 30 August, judges from the Phnom Penh municipal court have charged Kem Sokha with defamation.
This is but one action among other lawsuits against Kem Sokha. Chhim Phalvorun indicated that he did not know that the Phnom Penh court charged Kem Sokha, however in the afternoon of Monday, he also showed up to court to clarify the accusations made against Kem Sokha.
On the HRP end, currently Kem Sokha is traveling in the US. Nhem Ponharith, a HRP MP, indicated the same as Chhim Phalvorun, saying that he did not receive information on the charge brought against his party president yet. However, he said that he saw the letter ordering Kem Sokha to show up in court on 06 September in regards to the accusation of breach of trust and falsification of private letters as brought up by Chhim Phalvorun’s lawsuit.
Even though this is not a good sign for Kem Sokha’s political career, Nhem Ponharith still claimed that this lawsuit will not create any problem for his party. The charge issued against Kem Sokha comes at a time when the Phnom Penh municipal court is preparing to hold a new hearing to judge opposition leader Sam Rainsy who was accused of falsifying public document. Sam Rainsy’s case involves a map showing the location of border posts in Chantrea district, Svay Rieng province which he plans on using to show that these border posts were planted inside Cambodian territories.
Four years ago, before he became president of the HRP, Kem Sokha was the president of the CCHR. At that time, he was accused by a group of employees of irregularities in the administration of this NGO. The dispute between the employees and Kem Sokha led to numerous exchanges between them at the time. Chhim Phalvorun, a representative of the employees brought many lawsuits against Kem Sokha, among which the employees accused him of defamation, breach of trust, and faking signatures etc…
According to a reliable source, on 30 August, judges from the Phnom Penh municipal court have charged Kem Sokha with defamation.
This is but one action among other lawsuits against Kem Sokha. Chhim Phalvorun indicated that he did not know that the Phnom Penh court charged Kem Sokha, however in the afternoon of Monday, he also showed up to court to clarify the accusations made against Kem Sokha.
On the HRP end, currently Kem Sokha is traveling in the US. Nhem Ponharith, a HRP MP, indicated the same as Chhim Phalvorun, saying that he did not receive information on the charge brought against his party president yet. However, he said that he saw the letter ordering Kem Sokha to show up in court on 06 September in regards to the accusation of breach of trust and falsification of private letters as brought up by Chhim Phalvorun’s lawsuit.
Even though this is not a good sign for Kem Sokha’s political career, Nhem Ponharith still claimed that this lawsuit will not create any problem for his party. The charge issued against Kem Sokha comes at a time when the Phnom Penh municipal court is preparing to hold a new hearing to judge opposition leader Sam Rainsy who was accused of falsifying public document. Sam Rainsy’s case involves a map showing the location of border posts in Chantrea district, Svay Rieng province which he plans on using to show that these border posts were planted inside Cambodian territories.
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